reflections

Hm. Thus far i have done quite a bit of copy and pasting from the blog meant to be read by my employers. and i think that now, i would like to do a separate one, because after all, this blog is mine. and for me, most of all (though i am glad you all get a peak into the crazed dual minds of the gemini you so hopefully love :)

Anyway. Here, in florida, i've been exposed to the crazy world of eventing for the first time. I mean the real, true, upper level eventing. The riders. The horses. and what they do when they are not riding.... which is a shit ton of work, and a shit ton of conditioning. Fitness is so huge in the minds of the riders, for both themselves and their horses.

I have been thinking about this alot receintly, as Missy, who rides anywhere from 4-8+ or so horses a day, then goes twice a week to the gym for a session with a trainer. She bikes to the barn, and then bikes al over the cross country fields, which is no small feat (up and down up and down up and down hills all day).

The horses go for 20-30 minute trots every day, then they do canter sets. This is crazy to me..... where we actually try to not get the horses too fit because unruly horses in the hunt field could be less than desirable to the boss' if you know what i mean.

Then, we took a lesson from Karen Oconor today, which was amazing. she explains everything in such detail, almost micromanaging everything, but making it seem so clear and obvious, that it (hopefully) instantly absorbs. But she also talked alot about fitness, and although i walk a ton for work, up and down hills over and over, and ride a couple horses a day, I was out of breath after cantering a few circles with a jump stuck in there..... i mean, she was asking a lot of me, always changing a super tiny detail to get the best out of me and winton, but ultimately, we only rode with her for maybe a 1/2 hour or so, a few minutes more, because we were not in good enough shape. (mostly the horse, cause i would have pushed myself to the end... but STILL)
the point remains.

and i think, that as this is something that i want to do, event, ride, train, what have you, i really need to figure out a way to be fit. Yoga has helped me a ton with flexibility, calm, nerves, mood swings and upper body strength (i can now do a bunch of real live pushups no problem), but  i am now realizing it its not enough.

and in the training of my horse, i also need to work on the training of myself so i can not only keep up with him, but stay ahead of him and one up him on all levels so we can progress and so neither one of us will get hurt.

the end.
ps. any suggestions..... in which i will not jeopardize my safety, would be great.